Post by burner on Jan 15, 2014 1:58:36 GMT -5

The texting occurred during the Previews. I check emails etc during that time. I'd never expect what happened. IMHO there is no need for a gun in a theatre. But I live in a different society.

OK. Again, not making excuses for the inexcusable. And definitly agree there is no need for a gun in a theatre. But Previews are of interest to some, including me....as were (in the old days) the Travelogue, Short Subject, Cartoon and Pathe News. Point being, one pays and goes to the theatre to see what's on the screen without being distracted by the bright glare of electronics. And this guy... texting his 3 year old!? Give me a break. So, the kid can read at three, and knows how to view a text message? Or maybe the baby sitter was expected to open the text and go "Ah! Look at this! Daddy's at the theatre with Mommy and says "hello"." The guy didn't deserve to die but he was a jerk.

Post by bluepride on Jan 15, 2014 11:14:40 GMT -5

If you're off duty...or retired....and licensed, etc,etc.....you should be able to carry. And in light of some situations over the past few years, I have no problem with carrying at a movie theater. Look at what has happened in the not too distant past. If an OD or retiree was present at at least one movie theater that I can think of....there would be some people who would be still alive today. The key is knowing when to take action or not. Discretion. Imminent threat to yourself or others. What happened in Florida seems to be an anomaly. We don't know anything except that the guy was shot during the altercation. Last time I checked, popcorn wasn't considered a dangerous weapon but who knows what was said, implied, threatened or otherwise said during this incident. It's a bad situation no matter what. And now this retired Captain has to answer. Once again, we have to see how things play out.

Post by blu06 on Jan 16, 2014 1:46:29 GMT -5

This is just so tragic. I get the sense, that there may have been a lot of issues building up inside the retired Captain. He seem to have an issue with people texting in the past as well. Yesterday, he just went too far and allow his disparaging feelings take control. Now, someone is dead and another hurt, with still more stunned and maybe scarred for life with dreams.

Like many here, I am in favor of the Right to Bear Arms, but if one reads the U.S. Constitution, I believe the right is to be well armed with so the people can protect themselves from a government out of control with suppressing the freedoms of it citizens. I don't think the founding fathers were thinking a "Wild, Wild, Westattitude or environment among the everyday citizen.

Post by bluepride on Oct 20, 2014 16:58:27 GMT -5

Police chief arrest on sex charges shocks officials in two cities

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution -

Officials in two Pike County cities will likely meet Thursday to discuss the future of the one man who holds leadership positions in each following news of his arrest on charges that he used one position to solicit sex from young men and provided one with county gasoline.The GBI reported Wednesday it had arrested Molena Police Chief James Roberts, who is also mayor of Concord, after an investigation into whether he used his position to gain the trust of at least two young men, said Sherry Lang of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.Roberts provided one young man with his personal code and key to obtain county gas to fill up the man’s vehicle, Lang said.The investigation, which included a search of two city halls, one police station and Roberts’ home, also charges Roberts sent obscene pictures to a juvenile on his city phone, Lang said. The two Pike County towns each have approximately 370 people. Concord is about 50 miles south of Atlanta.“We’re in limbo at the moment trying to absorb everything,” said Molena Mayor Jay Garner, who said the city council had already been set to meet Thursday at 6 p.m. for a budget workshop. Officials will meet to discuss the personnel matter involving their police chief following that previously scheduled meeting.Concord Mayor Pro Tem John Strickland said Roberts presided over Tuesday night’s city council meeting, and officials had no indication then that their mayor was facing any legal troubles.“We were all shocked by it,” Strickland said. “If this is all true, we hope he will resign, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens from here.”Strickland said GBI officials came to city hall Wednesday morning to inspect city computers. He said investigators searched the city clerk’s computer to make sure there was nothing on it, even though Roberts does not use that computer. He added that investigators did not take that computer after determining there was no information relevant to the case on there, but did take some of the city’s inactive computers with them to inspect.Nothing so far has implicated the city in any malfeasance, Strickland said, and there has been no indication of any wrongdoing by Roberts in his capacity as mayor.“We will try to get the council together [Thursday] to go over what’s gone on with these accusations,” Strickland said, adding that as of early Wednesday evening, he had not been apprised of all the details concerning the accusations against Roberts. “The city of Concord’s not implicated in anything here. This seems to be away from the city of Concord.”The GBI was requested to investigate on Aug. 24 after grandparents complained to the Pike County Sheriff Office that Roberts was victimizing their grandson, Lang said.District Attorney Scott Ballard, who presides in the Griffin Judicial Circuit that includes Pike County, determined Roberts would be charged with two counts of solicitation of sodomy and one count of theft by conversion, Lang said.

Post by bluepride on Apr 19, 2015 12:21:49 GMT -5

Gwinnett jailer busted for gay groping inmates

Gay grab-assing in the county lockup only works out in sex videos. But when you're a Gwinnett County jail employee fondling inmates, not so much.

Practice makes perfect for Dennis Day, who allegedly groped three male inmates starting last summer and continuing to early April. When one took exception and tipped off jail officials, Day was investigated, fired and arrested. Now the 56-year-old Decatur resident is behind bars at the same facility facing three counts each of sexual assault and violation of his oath of office, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

From the AJC:

Day, who has now been fired from the sheriff’s office, is accused of “inappropriately (touching) three inmates in a sexual manner,” Volkodav said. One warrant for his arrest alleged that he “did grab and caress the victim’s genital area while the accused was on duty as a jail deputy at the Gwinnett County Detention Center.”

Three separate incidents with three separate inmates allegedly occurred between July 8, 2014, and April 4, 2015, Volkodav said. Day supervised a male housing unit, she said.

Same-sex high jinks are nothing new for metro Atlanta slammers. In August, lesbian jailer Lisa Ziglar was arrested on charges of sexual assault for allegedly exchanging "intimate touching" with a female inmate inside the Gwinnett jail.

A jailer for the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, Zel Mitchell, was arrested in March 2013 for swapping sex with a male inmate for contraband. In February 2013, Lewis Jackson was sentenced to two years in prison for trying to give gay blowies to three inmates at the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta. Jackson was the prison doctor.

In February 2012, Duone Clark resigned from the Gwinnett sheriff's office after allegations that he assaulted a transgender inmate. The inmate, Kricket Evans, filed a federal lawsuit over the incidents.

Under state law, even consensual sex between any person with supervisory or disciplinary authority – including teachers, physicians and law enforcement officers – is illegal.

Post by hcsodale on Apr 20, 2015 12:24:34 GMT -5

If they are that interested, grope them when they get out! That sure couldn't have been worth losing your job over. My Agency though even has a policy about associating with convicted felons, even if they are not in jail (with exception to immediate family members). That might have cost the guy a drink or two at the most if he had waited till they got out. It just proves that sometimes we think with the wrong head....

Post by bluepride on Apr 20, 2015 19:42:18 GMT -5

Aside from being totally wrong, I have to ask what is the attraction? Is some low life prisoner worth losing your job , pension, possibly family and whatever is left of your reputation? You're right. If they're that much of an attraction, wait till they get out. You'll probably find you'll be waiting for a long, long time.

Post by edmontongreg on May 12, 2015 12:30:46 GMT -5

I am anal about this, I normally am away from home on the weekends. As I am driving down highway I do a checklist in my head. I have actually turned back to make sure anything which could cause a fire doesn't have opportunity. As I dread this headline: